Elastomeric seal positioning support construction

ABSTRACT

A mounting support for a shaped elastomeric seal for a roadway or the like, wherein the support is readily mounted in a clearance position within the roadway expansion joint or void and cement is poured in situ about said support preparatory to the positioning of the elastomeric seal thereon. Eliminated are precast cement blocks and the like which heretofore complicated field installation of the elastomeric seal.

I Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,790,294 Trieste Feb. 5, 1974 1 ELASTOMERIC SEAL POSITIONING 3,595,142 7/1971 Via 404/64 x SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION 3,555,981 1/1971 V1ta1i 2,220,628 11/1940 Stedman [7 Inventor: Mario Trieste, 37, Varrek 2,045,089 6/1936 Kyte 404/51 Rockville Centre, NY. 1 1570 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers Jr. 72 [22] Fled June 12 19 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bauer & Amer 21 Appl. No.: 261,902

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 404/68 A un g s pp rt f r a shap d last meric seal for [51] Int. Cl. E0lc 11/04 a roadway or the like, h r the pp r i re ily [58] Field of Search 404/68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 69, mounted in a clearance position within the roadway 404/47 50, 53, 56 expansion joint or void and cement is poured in situ about said support preparatory to the positioning of [56] References Cited the elastomeric seal thereon. Eliminated are pre-cast UNITED STATES PATENTS cement blocks and the like which heretofore compli- 2,198,084 4/1940 Jacobson 404/69 Gated field Installation of the elastomenc Seal 3,447,430 6/1969 Gansepohl 404/69 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB FEB 5 I974 SHEET 1 0F 3 ELASTOMERIC SEAL POSITIONING SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION The present invention relates to roadway expansion joints, and more particularly to improvements which significantly facilitate the field installation of roadway expansion joint seals.

In roadway construction, which may be a highway or on a bridge, provision is made for changes in ambient temperatures and the corresponding expansion and contraction in the roadway concrete caused by these temperature changes by including an expansion joint or void transversely of the roadway at strategic locations therealong. As generally understood, these expansion joints are filled with elastomeric seal members which allow for concrete expansion and contraction without adverse consequence to the load supporting attributes and commercial use of the roadway. All known methods and techniques of making field installation of these elastomeric seal members are not entirely satisfactory for a number of reasons, the primary reason being the need to use pre-cast concrete holding blocks. Such blocks are expensive to make, heavy to handle, and have to be transported from the manufacturing site to the installation site.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an elastomeric seal positioning construction which greatly facilitates the field installation of said seal in a roadway or the like and otherwise overcomes the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to effectuate the installation of a roadway elastomeric seal without any pre-cast cement blocks and using only cement poured in situ at the site of use of the seal.

An embodiment of a roadway seal supporting construction demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a pair of cooperating spaced support bodies having an appropriate shape, in cross section, to accommodate the seal thereon, said bodies being readily positioned in clearance positions within the expansion joint or void. After said positioning of these support bodies, cement is poured in situ about the same and completes the mounting of these bodies so as to in turn permit the subsequent positioning thereon of the elastomeric seal without any use of pre-cast cement blocks or the like.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, partly in section, of a first embodiment of a combination positioning and support construction for an elastomeric seal for a roadway or the like;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary manner of arranging the seal support construction of FIG. 1 within a roadway expansion joint preparatory to pouring cement in situ in holding relation about said construction;

F l6. 3 is a side elevational view, in section taken on lines 33 of FIG. 2, illustrating further'details;

FlGS. 4a and 4b are perspective views of two embodiments of a support body forming a part of the construction of FlG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view, partially in section, of a second embodiment of a construction for positioning and supporting an elastomeric seal for a roadway or the like.

Reference is now made to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1 illustrating a first embodiment of a combination support and positioning construction, generally designated 10, for a road bed, roadway or similar construction utilizing an elastomeric seal 12. As generally understood, in the construction of a roadway, as exemplified by the concrete length portions 14 and 16, there is a need for an expansion void between the adjacent blocks 14 and 16 to allow for expansion of the concrete comprising these blocks. In such an expansion void, designated 18 herein, which is bounded in part by the facing side walls 20 and 22 of the concrete road blocks or portions 14 and 16, it is the customary practice to utilize an elastomeric seal, such as the previously noted seal 12, to fill expansion void 18 and yet allow for expansion and contraction of the concrete blocks or road portions 14 and 16. The expansion void or joint 18 is usually oriented transversely of the longitudinal direction of the roadway length portions 14 and 16.

Heretofore, it was necessary to utilize pre-cast cement blocks (not shown) having a tapered surface matching the taper or inclination of the side walls 20 and 22. Specifically, the prior practice contemplated the setting in place of these pre-cast cement blocks adjacent each cooperating side walls 20 and 22 and then placing the elastomeric seal in an interposed position between these two pre-cast cement blocks.

As a significant improvement over the foregoing practice involving the use of pre-cast cement blocks as a support and positioning construction for the elastomeric seal 12, the present invention contemplates the use of a construction including spaced-apart support rods 24 and 26, which in practice are oriented lengthwise of the void 18 and in adjacent position, as illustrated, to one of the side walls 20 and 22. The opposite ends of each of the rods 24 and 26 will be understood to be secured, in an appropriate manner, in a peripheral portion of the roadway 14, 16, so that each of the rods 24 and 26 occupies a suspended, clearance position in the expansion voidor joint 18.

The construction 10 also includes a cooperating pair of support bodies 28 and 30, which will be understood to be identically constructed, such construction being either one of the two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Using support body 28 as an example (i.e., that shown in FIGS. 1 and 4a), the same is an elongated member, preferrably fabricated of metal, having a horizontal wall 32 terminating in a downwardly turned ledge 34. Formed integral with the wall 32 is a sealaccommodating compartment bounded by facing vertical walls 36 and 38, the latter being slightly tapered. The walls 36, 38 are joined by a connecting horizontal wall 40. p

In the embodiment of the support body illustrated in FIGS. land 4a, prior to the bending of the metal into the shape for the body 28 as illustrated, said body, in the flat, is subjected to a die-cutting or similar operation which severs therefrom, as along the three sides 42, the portion of the body which is then bent out of the plane of the body 28 and effectively serves as a cementengaging and as a connecting member or projection 44 for the support body 28. That is, the die-cutting 44 is selectively performed at strategic locations along the length of the support body 28 and, as will now be described, is advantageously used in completing a connection to the previously noted support rods 24, 26. Such connection contributes to the proper positioning of the support bodies 28 and 30 in an adjacent relationship to each other so that the combined shape provided by the support bodies 28 and 30 is one which readily accommodates the elastomeric seal 12. Also, and most important, the cement which fills the expansion joint channel 18 hardens about the projections 44 and this, in an obvious manner, firmly maintains the seal support bodies 28, 30 in place.

During initial positioning of the construction 10, use may advantageously be made of an upstanding voidfilling member 46, disposed centrally of the expansion joint 18, as a central support for the bodies 28, 30. Thus, as is clearly illustrated in FIG. I, the respective ledges 34 on the support bodies 28, 30 are supported in an elevated position lengthwise of the expansion joint 18 on the member 46, which may be a crushable plastic or may even be entirely removed so as not to inhibit roadway expansion or contraction.

,The principal support for the bodies 38, 30 during the in situ pouring of the cement is, however, provided by transverse spaced members 47, all as is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The members 47 are placed along the channel 18 in straddling relation therewith and are connected, as by bolt means 49, to a member 51. The bodies 28,. 30 are each connected, as by bolt means 5 3, in depending relation from the members 51, and thus the bodies 28, 30 remain in place during the pouring of the cement thereabout.

Before the cement is poured, the present invention contemplates insuring a firm engagement between the cement and the bodies 28, 30. To this end, each said body is provided with plural laterally extending projections 44, preferrably at uniform intervals, such as every twelve inches. Moreover, the laterally extended connecting members or projections 44 are bent at an appropriate angle so that the free ends 48 of these projections are strategically located near the support rods 24 and 26. The free ends 48 are then secured by wire ties 50 or other such connecting means which can be conveniently utilized in the field, to the support rods 24 and 26.The cement thus hardens about the projections 44 and obviates the possibility of inadvertent disengagement of the bodies 28, 30 from the cement poured about these bodies.

With the support bodies 28 and 30 in their operative position, as just described, the present invention then contemplates the pouring of cement, in situ, around the support bodies 28 and 30 which, after a curing interval, solidify into blocks 52 and 54, which securely hold and support the support bodies 28 and 30 in place. Any one of several techniques for insuring the flow of said in situ cement completely around the support bodies 28 and 30 may be employed, such as the use of vibrators or the like.

' Assuming use of a removable void-filler 46, the same 34 of the support bodies 28, 30, and this effectively serves to center the water-proof member 56 in support bodies 28 and 30. Of course, after hardening of the cement, the seal supporting structure 47, 51 can be safely unbolted from the bodies 28, 30 preparatory to the positioning of the seal 12 between the roadway sections 14 and 16.

The elastomeric seal 12 will be understood to beof the type having a central body 60 and opposite depending legs 62 and 64, which legs bound a mounting notch 66. Thus the seal 12 is conveniently positioned on the side-by-side support bodies 28 and 30 by snapping notch 66 over the central portions of the support bodies and with the respective depending legs 62 and 64 located in the compartments bounded by the walls 36, 38 and 40. Seal 12 is then loaded or placed under the requisite compression by forcing wedge blocks 68 into an interposed position between the respective legs 62 and 64 and the vertical wall 38 of each of the support bodies 28 and 30.

Reference is now made to the second embodiment or construction for the support body hereof which is illustrated in FIG. 4b. Comparable or similar structural features to those already described in reference to FIG. 4a are designated by the same reference numerals as is used in FIG. 40. Thus it can be seen that the embodiment of FIG. 4b differs from the embodiment of FIG. 4a only in that in lieu of the struck-out connecting member 44, the FIG. 4b embodiment has a rod-like equivalent rod 70 which is welded, as at 72, at strategic spaced locations along the base of the vertical wall 36.

Reference should now be made to another embodiment of a construction for accommodating the elastomeric seal 12 which is illustrated in FIG. 5. Structural features of this embodiment which are similar to the previously described embodiment of FIGS. 1, 4a and 4b are designated by the same reference numerals. The significant differences between the embodiments are dictated by the differences in the structural environment of the construction 10.

Specifically, in FIG. 5, the deck of the old roadway which is represented by the adjacent cement blocks 74 and 76 are bridged by horizontally oriented plates 78 and 80 which form a conventional expansion joint 82 at their confronting edges. The situation depicted in FIG. 5 is typical for a bridge roadway. In such a situation, the resurfacing of the old roadway, as exemplified by the cement blocks 74 and 76, results from the pouring of cement, in situ, which ultimately provides the adjacent cement blocks 14 and 16. Since the expansion joint or void 18 is bounded at the bottom by the plates 78 and 80, the support bodies 28 and 30 are readily placed on theplates 78 the plates 80 and secured in place thereto in any appropriate manner, as by weld joints 84. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the connecting rods 24 and 26 are dispensed with, as are the connecting means 44 extending from the support bodies 28 and 30. Additionally, the downwardly turned ledge 34 is extended to a necessary size to properly position the wall 32 horizontally without use of a central support means, such as the previously noted support 46. As illustrated, the lower edge of the walls 34 are advantageously secured by a weld 86 along opposite sides of the expansion joint 82 of the plates 78 and 80.

From the foregoing description, it should be readily appreciated that both embodiments of a positioning and support construction hereof for an elastomeric seal 12 (such as for example the Giustra Z seal, commercially available from Societa Applicazioni Gomma Antivibranti, of Milano, Italy) can be readily installed in the field without any pre-cast cement holding blocks. Instead, the holding cement blocks, such as the blocks 52 and 54, are poured in situ and thereby provide significant savings in both money and effort required in installing the elastomeric seal 12.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features; Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an elastomeric seal having an operative position in an expansion void bounded by facing side walls of a concrete roadway that is subject to expansion and contraction, and a positioning support construction for said elastomeric seal comprising at least two support rods disposed in spaced relation lengthwise of said void adjacent each said bounding wall thereof, a pair of cooperating spaced apart support bodies having a combined shape to accommodate said elastomeric seal thereon, support means disposed in said void beneath said support bodies so as to provide an elevated operative position to said support bodies lengthwise of said void, and connecting means on said support bodies extending from spaced lengthwise locations therealong into connected relation with a cooperating one of said support rods, whereby cement subsequently deposited in situ in said void hardens about said connecting means to contribute to the engagement of said support bodies by said cement.

2. The elastomeric seal positioning support construction as defined in claim 1 wherein each said support body is fabricated of metal and each said connecting means is partially severed and then bent into said extending relation therefrom.

3. The elastomeric seal positioning support construction as defined in claim 2 including a waterproof member in covering relation over said support bodies to prevent seepage of said in situ cement through openings in said bodies formerly occupied by said connecting means.

4. The elastomeric seal positioning support construction as defined in claim 2 wherein each said support body has a pair of facing vertically oriented walls defining a tapered elastomeric seal-engaging compartment therebetween. 

1. In combination, an elastomeric seal having an operative position in an expansion void bounded by facing side walls of a concrete roadway that is subject to expansion and contraction, and a positioning support construction for said elastomeric seal comprising at least two support rods disposed in spaced relation lengthwise of said void adjacent each said bounding wall thereof, a pair of cooperating spaced apart support bodies having a combined shape to accommodate said elastomeric seal thereon, support means disposed in said void beneath said support bodies so as to provide an elevated operative position to said support bodies lengthwise of said void, and connecting means on said support bodies extending from spaced lengthwise locations therealong into connected relation with a cooperating one of said support rods, whereby cement subsequently deposited in situ in said void hardens about said connecting means to contribute to the engagement of said support bodies by said cement.
 2. The elastomeric seal positioning support construction as defined in claim 1 wherein each said support body is fabricated of metal and each said connecting means is partially severed and then bent into said extending relation therefrom.
 3. The elastomeric seal positioning support construction as defined in claim 2 including a waterproof member in covering relation over said support bodies to prevent seepage of said in situ cement through openings in said bodies formerly occupied by said connecting means.
 4. The elastomeric seal positioning support construction as defined in claim 2 wherein each said support body has a pair of facing vertically oriented walls defining a tapered elastomeric seal-engaging compartment therebetween. 